Quick Hits

posted by Jay -
Jan 10, 2018

Ready to get organized in 2018? There’s no better place to start than your closet, but that task can be a little intimidating. So here are some suggestions for the clothes you can ditch first and not look back.

Your well-worn coat - You love it so much that it’s starting to fall apart, so unless it was a major investment, it’s probably not worth the upkeep.

That faded pair of PJs- There’s nothing wrong with lounging around the house in worn-out comfy clothes, but trading those dingy jammies for something fresh, bright and new feels pretty good, too.

The shoes that give you blisters - If the shoes you just had to have are still giving you blisters, even after you’ve given them time to get broken in, they’re just not worth it and it’s time to say bye bye.

The costume jewelry you never wear- Because you never wear these jewels they’re tangled and tarnished and if you’re only going to keep them in a box, what’s the point?

White sneakers that refuse to come clean - If your once-white kicks won’t come clean with detergent, bleach, and time in the sun, cut your losses and let them go.

The bag you accidentally broke- You overstuffed your tote and it finally gave out on you. You paid a lot for it and vowed to get it fixed, but if that’s never really going to happen, it’s not doing you any good anymore.

The shirt/dress/pants that never fit right - You swore you’d take it to the tailor, but never did, so you still can’t wear it and now it’s time to donate or sell it to make room in your closet for pieces you’ll wear.

The bra you've owned for years- They stretch out and lose their shape, which affects how our clothes fit, so treat yourself to some new undergarments and don’t put them in the dryer!

That something you've been saving for a special occasion - If you’re holding on to it so you can wear it to a wedding or party in the future, but always buy something new to wear instead, be realistic and get rid of it.

Your prom dress- If you’re keeping it for sentimental value, take a photo of it and donate that frock so someone else might actually get to wear it.

If you’re one of the many Americans who made a New Year’s resolution to find a new job in 2018, you may be in luck. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 44% of employers are looking to hire full-time, permanent employees in the coming year, with 51% are expected to hire part-time, permanent employees.

So what fields are likely hiring the most full-time workers? They include:

Jobs tied to skilled labor (30%)

Jobs tied to data analysis (25%)

Jobs tied to digital marketing (17%)

Jobs tied to cybersecurity (15%)

Jobs tied to automation (12%)

Jobs tied to artificial intelligence and machine learning (10%)

And here’s even more good news for those looking for work. CareerBuilder reports that a majority of employers are expected to offer higher wages to new employees. The survey found that 30% plan to increase starting wages for new hires by 5%, while 36% will pass on that increase to their current staff as well.

But all this hiring isn’t good news for everyone. In fact, employers may not be looking forward to it, mainly because it’s hard to find qualified applicants. In fact, 45% of HR managers say they have jobs they can’t fill because of a lack of qualified talent, with 58% saying they have jobs that have taken 12 weeks or longer to fill.

The idea of going to a job we don't love may be mind-boggling to us, but for some people, being passionate about what they do really isn't all that important.

A new LinkedIn survey finds that 40% of professionals don’t consider being passionate about their job a sign of success, while 69% look at their paycheck as the real measure of success. For 74% of workers, living problem fee and not worrying about money is their biggest motivation for working, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still doing things that make them happy. In fact, 36% say they do pursue their loves, but usually do it with a passion project or side job.

Another thing that isn’t so important to workers these days? A job title.Overall, 89% of professionals say the skills they learn on a job are more important than a job title, with “learning a new skill” the top goal of most professionals this year.

Workers also don’t seem concerned with what other people think of their job, with 86% not interested in having a job their peers admire. Instead, they’d rather have a job with some flexibility, with 34% of professionals saying they’d be willing to take a 10% cut in pay to be able to design their own schedule.

And for a lot of people, it’s what they do for others that truly makes them feel successful. The poll finds that 87% of people believe a true measure of success can be valued in what you inspire others to do, with 40% of people saying they feel successful when they’re teaching others.

Now that the holiday season’s long gone, and everyone’s back to work, a lot of folks are probably already thinking about their next vacation. And if you’re someone who’s looking to go somewhere new and hot, TripAdvisor is here to help.

The travel site just came out with their Travelers' Choice awards for Destinations on the Rise, recognizing 44 spots around the world that have seen an increase in positive traveler reviews, as well as searches and booking interests.

So, where should everybody be thinking about going in 2018? Well, the top destination in the U.S. is Kapaa, Hawaii, which is known for its diverse array of hotels, shopping centers and restaurants, as well as plenty of water sports like snorkeling, kayaking and water skiing.

Now that the holidays are over and your kids got everything on their list and then some, where are you supposed to put all their new toys and gear? You thought their rooms were maxed out on storage before, but now it’s reached the point of no return and something has to be done.

Sure, you could just go in and start tossing old stuff to make room for the new, or you could use this clever way to get the kids to pitch in, just like mama and homemaker extraordinaire Joanna Gaines. At a recent event the HGTV star and mom of four - soon to be five - shared her tactic for fun, family-style cleanup: They make a game out of it.

At the beginning of each new year,Drake, Duke, Emmie Kay andElla Rose each get three trash bags, then mama Jo sets a timer for 20 minutes. In that time the kids have to gather toys, clothes, books, and other random kid junk they don’t need anymore and fill the bags with it. Then it all gets donated and there’s more room for everything they keep.

Gaines says the extreme editing is essential to help “see the space and reevaluate hot to make it functional for your family.” Plus, letting the kids decide what stays and goes gives them ownership over their space. And hopefully it teaches them that less really is more.

Starbucks has added a new espresso to its permanent menu, something that ever hasn’t happened since they first opened back in 1971. And this new espresso offering could even help you cut back on your sugar so you can stick to your New Year’s resolution.

The new Blonde Espresso is now available and Starbucks will continue to serve their Signature Espresso as well, which means customers finally have a choice between light and dark roast for their lattes and macchiatos. The new Blonde version is said to be brighter than the Signature Espresso, with notes of citrus and caramel.

And the best part? Because the Blonde Espresso is a smoother, lighter roast, you don’t have to add as much cream and sugar to it to reach the bliss point. Starbucks is even making their flavored drinks made with Blonde Espresso with less syrup, since this brew isn’t as pungent as the dark roast.

So if you order a tall vanilla latte with Blonde Espresso, it’s only going to have one pump of syrup instead of two they use in the same drink made with Signature Espresso. That means less sugar for you, so you can stick to your New Year’s resolution to cut back on the sweet stuff.